Archive | March, 2010

It is borderline unacceptable that Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters make no mention of picocell technology in these videos, or the fact that safe in-flight cell phone calls are being made in Asia, Europe and the Middle East (talk about American-centric), but the real crime comes at the end of the second video (skip right to the […]

Just because there has been a bit of a lull in the Koito seat story (as independent tests are conducted on in-service seats) doesn’t mean that airlines aren’t suffering the fallout from the whole debacle. As first reported here, Continental Airlines is dealing with delays to its Boeing 737-800s. A photographer, who posts photos on […]

I think in-flight mobile connectivity rocks. I want to be able to call my daughter when I’m on the road – and in the air! I want to be able to interview you in-flight. Yeah you! I carry two cell phones on me (don’t judge). So, while I’m amazed and impressed by AeroMobile’s usage rates, […]

IAG’s Addison Schonland has just had a powerful discussion with ASiQ chief Ron Chapman about the firm’s SafeCell system, which “provides an alternative approach for passengers to use their mobile phones onboard aircraft without the requirement for installing complex GSM PicoCell network infrastructure”. We’ve discussed this solution briefly in the past. It’s all about Bluetooth […]

Uh boy, few things are worse than having to eat your own words. However, after seeing AeroMobile’s stats on in-flight voice call usage, I may have to do just that (well, just a little). For years, I’ve been promising readers of this blog that people don’t make a lot of voice calls in-flight. And, for […]

We know that V Australia is launching the world’s first integrated cellular and in-flight entertainment (IFE) platform this year. The mobile connectivity service is being provided by AeroMobile and the IFE is Panasonic’s eX2 system.But what exactly will V Australia’s connected IFE entail? Picture yourself watching a show on board an aircraft. The IFE system […]

I’m heading to Washington DC today to attend the Satellite 2010 expo, and to moderate a panel on in-flight voice and data connectivity tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to the session as we’ve got a great line-up of speakers.However, before I put the pedal to the metal and high-tail it out of Lancaster, PA, I […]

Heads are starting to roll at Koito Industries after the Japanese firm admitted to falsifying records on 150,000 seats on 1,000 aircraft in the world fleet. And it’s easy to see why. If EASA and the FAA issue airworthiness directives covering the modification or removal of seats that weren’t tested properly before shipment to Airbus […]

Lufthansa intends to offer the Lufthansa Technik-made NiceView passenger flight information and moving map system on its Airbus A380s, the first of which is scheduled to enter into service this June. NiceView provides various audio and video interfaces with the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, according to Lufthansa Technik. Panasonic Avionics is supplying the IFE on […]

We email like it’s going out of style, and yet many of us don’t appreciate what it takes to make our emailing happen in-flight. It’s a big freaking deal. But new generation connectivity is not just happening in the cabin. It’s happening in the cockpit too. And on ships. And in the hands of in-the-field […]